Burns, Buffalo Power Past Durham, 9-2

Buffalo, NY --- Andy Burns homered twice and scored four times to lead Buffalo past Durham 9-2 on Saturday night at Sahlen Field.
After winning the first game of their six-game road trip, the Bulls have lost four straight games and fallen out of sole possession of the wild card lead with 15 games to play in the regular season.
Durham (68-56) took a 1-0 lead in the second when Kevin Padlo scored from third on a double play grounder by Daniel Robertson. But the Bisons (64-60) nosed ahead in the bottom of the inning. Luis Santos, who suited up as a Bison pitcher in 2017 and 2018, opened for the Bulls, working a perfect first inning. But in the second, Santos walked the first two hitters before a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. Anthony Banda (L, 2-3) replaced Santos, striking out Jordan Patterson before Santiago Espinsa singled to left field on a two-strike pitch to score a pair for a 2-1 Buffalo lead.
Durham tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth on a solo home run by Kean Wong to right, his second homer of the road trip.
But Andy Burns hit a two-run shot against Banda in the fourth for a 4-2 lead and again in the sixth against reliever Cole Sulser. Burns finished the game 3-3, with two homers, three RBI a walk and four runs scored.
Brock Stewart (W, 1-0) won his Buffalo debut, workinng 5 2/3 innings, permitting two runs.  
Banda suffered the loss for Durham. Banda threw 3 2/3 innigns, allowing six hits and four runs.
Padlo finished the night 2-4 with a double, while Wong was 2-4 with a double and home run.
With the defeat and Charlotte's doubleheader opening win over Columbus on Saturday, the Bulls will either be tied for the wild card lead if Columbus wins the nightcap or a game behind Charlotte if the Knights sweep.
The road trip concludes on Sunday at 1:05 PM ET with Ricardo Pinto (9-4, 3.88) opposing Connor Fisk (5-6, 4.90).